Press Releases

A San Angelo man was arrested Sunday after a violent confrontation with a citizen and police.

Police were dispatched to the area of Edmond Blvd. and Van Buren Street around 3:00 p.m. for the report of a man walking in the street, inhibiting the flow of traffic and yelling at passing vehicles.

Upon arrival, a San Angelo Police Officer located the man who was exhibiting behavior that indicated he may have been under the influence of an unknown intoxicant. The Officer made contact with the man who then became combative towards him. While engaged in the struggle, the Officer used his department issued Taser on the man to gain compliance but the Taser had no effect. Several citizens who witnessed the attack on the Officer attempted to help until backup Officers arrived.

The subject was eventually taken into custody and identified as Timothy S. Swinehart (DOB 05-03-82) of San Angelo.

During the field investigation, Officers learned that prior to their arrival Swinehart confronted and assaulted a man in front of a nearby residence. The victim told Officers he and his child were exiting his residence when Swinehart confronted him. The victim was able to secure the child in his vehicle before Swinehart began his assault. The victim and the child were not injured and the victim did not pursue charges.

Swinehart was transported to the Tom Green County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication and Resisting Arrest Search or Transport.

Just after 4:00 a.m. this morning, San Angelo Police were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 block of North Street for the report of shots fired. Upon arrival, a young male approached the officers and told them he had been shot. Officers also observed several people physically fighting in the front yard of the residence.

Officers attempted to break up the fights; however, the subjects would not comply and became aggressive. Additional units and nearby Tom Green County Sheriff Deputies arrived to assist with control of the scene. Officers also administered emergency triage to the shooting victim until Medics arrived. The shooting victim, a 15-year-old male from San Angelo, was transported to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance where he was admitted for treatment of gunshot wounds to his arm and hand. His current condition is unknown.

Subsequent to the investigation, Detectives learned the shooting arose from a verbal dispute involving several family members that became physical. At some point during the altercation, one family member retrieved two firearms, allegedly in an attempt to break up the fights. The man's wife, later identified as Sophia Bara (DOB 08-08-81) of San Angelo, grabbed one of the firearms and threatened the family members. The gun then discharged and struck the victim.

Two additional victims were also treated at Shannon Medical Center for minor injuries they sustained in the physical altercation.

Bara was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and transported to the Tom Green County Jail. No other arrests have been made but additional charges may be forthcoming.

This is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.

Citizens who possess a current and valid Concealed Handgun License or a new Hand Gun License will be allowed to open carry handguns beginning tomorrow. In addition to having a valid license to carry a handgun, the license holder must carry the handgun in a belt holster or shoulder holster, and be able to present the valid license to a Peace Officer upon request.

Some of the locations where handguns are not permitted to be carried are the physical premises of a school or a school function, school transportation, the secure area of an airport, polling locations on the day of an election or while early voting is in progress, premises of courts or court offices, correctional facilities, hospitals or nursing homes, on the premises of a business where 51% or more of its income is derived from the sale or service of alcohol, and at governmental meetings when it is posted that the carrying of handguns or firearms is prohibited.

In addition to these locations, individual business and property owners can prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns, the carrying of open handguns, or both. Business and property owners can post the notice at the entrance to the premises or give verbal notice. Also, a license holder cannot carry a handgun openly or concealed if they are intoxicated.

The San Angelo Police Department asks citizens to exercise their rights to carry open and concealed handguns responsibly. License holders should ensure they are familiar with sections 30.06, 30.07, 46.03, and 46.035 of the Texas Penal Code to ensure compliance with the law and a full listing of where the open carrying or concealed carrying is prohibited as only a few are listed in this press release.

The SAPD also asks citizens not to interfere with the rights of those who carry handguns openly or concealed, but if you see something suspicious or reckless please call 911.

Press Release # 123015(14)-Police Sergeant Retires after Nearly 30 Years of Service

Dec 30, 2015 04:36 PM

Today, the San Angelo Police Department celebrated the career of Police Sergeant Rusty Herndon during a retirement ceremony at the McNease Convention Center.

Sgt Herndon was hired by the San Angelo Police Department on March 1, 1986. After completion of the Police Academy, Sgt Herndon was assigned to the patrol division until October of 1988 when he transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division. While assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division, Sgt Herndon investigated Crimes against Persons. Sgt Herndon worked in CID until April of 1997 when he promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

During his first year as a Sergeant, Sgt Herndon was the supervisor for the DARE and GREAT programs. From July 1998 until September 2000, Sgt Herndon was assigned as the Patrol Administrative Supervisor. Beginning September 1, 2000, Sgt Herndon was assigned as a Patrol Shift Supervisor until her transferred to the Training Division as the Training Director on June 1, 2004.

On September 1, 2006, Sgt Herndon returned to Patrol as a Day shift Supervisor. In November of 2007, Sgt Herndon transferred back to the Criminal Investigation Division as a supervisor where he supervised Detectives investigating Crimes Against Persons. When the San Angelo Police Department changed to Sector Policing, Sgt Herndon became the supervisor for Sectors 3 and 4, as well as the Crimes Against Children Investigators. Sgt Herndon has remained a supervisor in CID since 2007. During his tenure as a supervisor in CID, Sgt Herndon was awarded the Investigative Supervisor of the Year award for 2008-2009.

In addition to his normal duties, Sgt Herndon has also served as the Crisis Negotiation Team Leader since 2006. Sgt Herndon has also participated in the National Police Shooting Championship since 2006. Sgt Herndon won the Overall National Champion ?Classified? Revolver in 2006, Overall National Champion ?Marksman? Revolver 2007, over 35 first place individual National Police Shooting Championship awards in Revolver, Semi-Automatic, and Service Weapon, and 8 first place National Police Shooting Championship team matches.

Sgt Herndon will retire tomorrow December 31, 2015 after 29 years and 10 months of service to the San Angelo Police Department. Sgt Herndon has been a valuable member of the San Angelo Police Department and will be truly missed. The San Angelo Police Department wishes him well in his retirement.

Over the weekend, two fake news stories about incidents in San Angelo surfaced on Facebook. The first story was about a car crash with three fatalities and seven injuries. The second story was in reference to a shooting at a park where six were claimed to be killed with 10 wounded. The San Angelo Police Department has not responded to any calls like this and these stories are not real.

The stories were posted on Facebook under a community page titled San Angelo Breaking. There are several stories from local media outlets posted to the page along with the two fake news stories. The San Angelo Police Department wants citizens to be aware of this page and the fake stories. The SAPD also wishes to remind citizens in the event these types of incidents occur, the story will be found on the websites and Facebook pages of our verified local media outlets as well as the San Angelo Police Departments Facebook page.